According to Google Trends, but also according to Distrowatch, our own statistics here at OSNews and overall sense of the industry during 2006, Ubuntu has a big leap in mind share ahead of its competition (please note that we don't dare to say "market share", although we are pretty confident that it's the most used Linux desktop out there today). The second Fedora has a very small edge ahead of SuSe (while in US is a clear second), while Debian is following fourth. Mandrake+Mandriva (add both names on Google Trends and then sum the results) is clearly way below the previous four distros, but a clear 5th nonetheless. Last year Ubuntu was only a bit ahead of the other distros worldwide, but 2006 seems to have skyrocketed the distribution in the people's minds and computers.

I really doubt it. I think Gnome offers new Linux users the simplicity necessary to make the initial transition to Linux. While KDE has very nice features, it isn't as user friendly.

I respectfully disagree. I *really* don't want to start a Gnome/KDE flameware here, but in my personal experience Windows users tend to feel more comfortable with KDE, while Mac users tend to favor Gnome.

I've used both, and I like both, though these days I'm using KDE more. I do believe that the Ubuntu philosophy goes beyond DEs, though and that they'd still be as popular as they are today if they had opted for KDE instead of Gnome (though it is idle speculation, and in fact we'll never know...)

I *really* don't want to start a Gnome/KDE flameware here, but in my personal experience Windows users tend to feel more comfortable with KDE, while Mac users tend to favor Gnome.

I would say that's right on the money.

The interesting thing though is that in KDE, you can get all KDE apps to put a menu at the top of the screen a la MacOS (instead of below the window title bar). I haven't seen anything like that in GNOME.

Personally I would like one or other of the DE's to at least give me the option of hiding the menus until I press a mouse button, a la NeXTStep and RiscOS.

I'm not trying to start a flamewar either. Why do people think that every time a statement is made comparing the two?

Personal experience... ;-)

Most new users I've dealt with prefer Gnome. Many of them move on to KDE later, but initially, Gnome isn't a frightening as KDE, I guess.

That's possible...KDE does offer more options. I guess it really depends on the kind of user, whether they are the "curious" type or the "easily spooked" one, you know, the type of users who are afraid to break something by pulling down menus and pressing buttons... :-)

Personally, I like E-17 and can't wait for it to be finished.

Indeed. I think it got a good shot in the arm now that it's the default PS3 desktop.

Exactly! KDE offers every customization you can think of, which is great. However, in my experience, it has proven to, as you put it, spook new users.

As I said, many of the users I have introduced to Linux have gone on to prefer KDE over Gnome, but at first Gnome seems to provide just the right level of security to help people transition over smoothly.

At least that's my opinion.

Now, if you want me to start a flamewar, get me started on .NET and Java (not vs. each other, but both of them in one camp and better methods of software development in the other). I hate .NET and Java.